RCA announces NextGen Coaching Team

RCA is pleased to announce the NextGen coaching team aligned within our NextGen Hub locations. Carol Love (Trent University/Peterborough), Scott Swinkels (University of Victoria), Maksym Kepskyy (University of British Columbia), and Dane Lawson (Western University) will be working collectively to provide enhanced training opportunities and resources for athletes in alignment with the core objectives of the NextGen Strategy.

The NextGen Coach position has two core objectives:
1- Providing coaching support that elevates the quality and quantity of athletes within the NextGen HUB location;
2- Providing technical leadership for targeted high performance athletes and coaches.

The goal of the Next Generation (NextGen) Development Strategy for Rowing in Canada is to improve the quality and quantity of rowers tracking within the high performance athlete development pathway and develop rowers identified as having the potential to deliver Olympic and Paralympic podium performances.

“I’m excited about rolling out the coaching staff to support the NextGen strategy through the HUB partnerships,” said Adam Parfitt, RCA Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways. “We have a young group of quality athletes and keen coaches looking to rally around the strategy and strive to become our future Olympic Athletes and Coaches.”

These exceptional coaches will take up their NextGen roles at the beginning of February with two more coaching positions under recruitment at the University of Victoria and Brock University.

Carol Love – Trent University/Peterborough

Carol was a member of the 1976 Canadian Women’s Eight at the Montreal Olympics and a bronze medalist at the 1977 World Rowing Championships - the first women’s team to win a world rowing medal for Canada.

Carol has played a key role in the development and success of rowing at both Trent University and the Peterborough Rowing Club and initiated high school women’s rowing at Peterborough Collegiate in 1978. Love has coached club, high school, and university rowers to provincial, national and Olympic titles.

Carol was a Talent Development Centre Coach with the Row to Podium program in Peterborough prior to transitioning into the NextGen Hub Coach role. Carol will have additional responsibility in acting as a mentor to the other Hub Coaches as the NextGen strategy is rolled out.

“Rowing Canada's success on the international stage will be built on the integrated model of the Next Gen Hub strategy,” said Love. “I look forward to working with the team of HUB coaches to deliver the program across the country, providing athletes and coaches with a clear pathway toward world class performance.”

Scott Swinkels – University of Victoria
A former UVIC athlete, Scott most recently held the position of Junior Head Coach at the Gorge Narrows Rowing Centre. Scott also played a key role in developing the junior program structure at Victoria City Rowing Club.

The University of Victoria is increasing their investment into their NextGen strategy by hiring an additional coaching position in the near future.

Maksym Kepskyy – University of British Columbia

A former UBC athlete, Maksym most recently held a development coach position at the Vancouver Rowing Club. Maksym has a keen interest in Biomechanics and holds a Masters of Kinesiology from UBC.

Dane Lawson – Western University

A former Western University athlete, Dane was a coxswain at Western and the Senior Rowing Team, winning a Bronze medal in coxed pair at the World Championships in 2012. Most recently, Dane was Head Coach of the Argonaut Rowing Club in Toronto.

Brock University – NextGen coach to be confirmed.

RCA and HUB partners will build a plan to deliver on the NextGen strategy outcomes. Some initial steps will include: Identifying performance targets tailored to each Hub, building relationships within the community of athletes and coaches, and planning for monthly NextGen camps.

For more information on the RCA NextGen Development Strategy, click here.

For inquiries about the NextGen Development Strategy, please contact RCA.